lowdown

[quote name='Starless' post='867108' date='Jun 14 2010, 03:27 PM']They eventually ended up playing [b]rhythm guitar [/b]- [b]which surely is the lowest common denominator in a band[/b]. Although the concept of a purely rhythm guitarist is long gone, that is exactly what a 'lead' guitarist becomes in-between his twiddly bits - so for the vast majority of a gig all guitarists actually spend their time being the [b]dumbass rhythm player [/b]- a job that requires the least talent of any of the band's functions. (IMHO of course )[/quote] Good grief... So Nile Rodgers is just a dumbass rhythm player... Good rhythm gtr is a serious art. Garry

[quote name='essexbasscat' post='866329' date='Jun 13 2010, 08:03 PM']Why does no-one ever ask if it is easy to become a [b]MUSICIAN[/b] ? T[/quote] Very good.... Garry

To Be honest i use Finale [ and have for a few years] But i was tinkering with this today, and it is pretty easy to use. So for anyone wanting to get into the bigger named notaters this is a great start.. Because its free... The online vids are a good pointer to. Garry

If anyone is looking for a free score editor - Musescore is worth a shot. Its pretty good, the site also has free set up tutorials. It comes with playback sounds [ just GM sounds - but none the less useful for hearing your results] The site has been up and down a little today, but keep trying its only intermittent. [url="http://musescore.org/en"]http://musescore.org/en[/url] Garry

Good one..! I have a few things flying around the world at the moment... Its the royalties that PRS collect that mounts up. So i hope you and your band are members, otherwise you might be missing out on extra dosh... Garry

I think i remember reading somewhere that it was just a heavy compressed DI Jazz Bass with an Envelope filter, which was quite common at the time. Another trick of that time was a Moog Bass under the Bass Gtr. Garry

+1 to what the Major says. Been a self employed freelance muso for over 30 years now. Always been upfront with the taxman, he in return has given me no hassle. Garry

[quote name='woodster' post='853251' date='Jun 1 2010, 08:45 AM']i could never be a session player, could you? ...... Yep.... [/quote] Garry

[quote name='crez5150' post='853338' date='Jun 1 2010, 09:59 AM']Dear Bass Agony Aunt Mark King or Flea? from Jeff 'The Tash' Berlin[/quote] Very good. Garry

Apart from whats been said above.... Its getting to know a variety of other Musicians, MD's, Fixers etc, not just Bassists. Look for your local theatre and find out what show is on, Go to the stage door and ask the Bassist if you can sit in and see a show [from the pit] get a feel for whats going on. Try getting into a band outside of your circle, a function band possibly...... You are going to have to do a lot of networking, good pro attitude and musician skills alone wont do it if nobody know's you are around. What about trying to grab some dep work from guys on this very site? Advertise in the Bass players wanted/available section..it all helps. Garry

[quote name='AttitudeCastle' post='846787' date='May 24 2010, 07:30 PM']I am musically literate as i play trombone/bass trombone in an orchestra though![/quote] Every one in an Orchestra is musically literate, apart from................ Viola players. Garry

[quote name='Delberthot' post='75408' date='Oct 17 2007, 02:36 AM']I've played in a weding/function/dinner dance band for the past 11 years so have developed a knack for making stuff up as we regularly have to play songs that we don't normally do. there is a big secret and I may divulge it someday but there are only a few patterns that you can actually play when covering other peoples tunes (except Frank Sinatra & Nat King Cole) which means that i can very rarely make a mistake when playing an unfamiliar tune. I'm not being a show off, I just discovered the pattern. hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha[/quote] Urm... I think its called busking... Plenty of people on this site, and in fact all over the world do it. So your secret is safe.. Garry

Good Stuff dude.. Garry

Some one played me a copy of this today.... Sounds great. Garry

[quote name='Pete Academy' post='842518' date='May 19 2010, 08:54 PM']I never usually think about if the groove is in front or behind the beat...it just comes out the way I feel.[/quote] I think this is what happens, when these players we are all refering to Record. They just play, thats what they are and what they do. I can not think they would wake up one morning and think ,behind today, infront tomorrow. They just do what comes natural to them. And i like to think we all do that.Other wise surely it all just becomes non Musical. [well to me anyway] Garry

[quote name='Pete Academy' post='840572' date='May 18 2010, 10:02 AM']Listen and play along to this track for a good while: [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNDRs0Iiv6Y"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNDRs0Iiv6Y[/url] It's a perfect example of playing behind the beat. Quite tricky.[/quote] Although i have always liked that track..... I have always thought that the Bass line lacked swing [ i dont mean as in walking lines ] But that bouncy swing 16's that AJ is great at. [And all the other greats for that matter] The Bass player is playing it very straight and rigid, regardless of behind[relaxed] or in front [pushing] of the beat. Even more so as the track starts to progress. Garry

[quote name='Faithless' post='840055' date='May 17 2010, 07:24 PM']Anyway, wattabout reading, I think, that most cruise gigs are based on reading, mate, so, if you don't have your reading chops going, it not worth going for that, eh..[/quote] That is not totally correct. Depends what the gig is.If you are backing the shows , of course. But there are just as many gigs on ships where you are playing for dancing or even just dinner/lounge/bar gigs playing standards and Latin. Bubinga.. The money is not as good as it used to be, but it still is ok. Plus the thing is everything is all found [ food, accomodation ] If you got nothing else to do - do it. I have done plenty over the years and made plenty of Muso friends all over the world. There will be plenty of other bands and muso's on board, so you will have a good social life. Who knows you might like it and do a bit more. A sure good way of getting your chops together.[plenty of playing] and save a bit of dosh. Garry

Good song by the way Its in 6/8 0r a fast 3/4. Its not hard to learn - you might suprise yourself if you get stuck and use your lugs. Garry

The Bass part is easy enough to learn - just get stuck in...... If you must have your daily fix of tab... Here is the TAB for the Sax line.... [In, erm..... bass tab] [attachment=49607:Capture.JPG] Garry

Remember back in the 80/90's [and still around] we had appearing on the scene the likes of... Jamie Talbot, Nigel Hitchcock, Gerard Presencer, Dave Cliffe etc.... More clones of the greats, but never the less all fantastic musicians. I managed to do gigs with a lot of these guys, and it always was a great experience. Garry

[quote name='Crazykiwi' post='832932' date='May 10 2010, 11:45 AM']Sorry Garry, I didn't see your post. Thanks for that! Yes on the whole life is pretty good. Hopefully will get better when my boss goes on maternity leave...[/quote] Looks like we are finally on the move to Spain at last. 5 months of things going wrong..[ people not getting their act together- Solicitors mainly] All set for the end of July. UK might have a Prime Minister by then...not that i care Garry

[quote name='witterth' post='829793' date='May 6 2010, 04:41 PM']Oh, and who ever it was that played on ABC's "lexicon of love" album, he was pretty important to the album.I dont know his name, or what happened to him/her.[/quote] That was Brad Lang- great player, i think he does gigs for Barbara Dixon these days. I did a six month stint in his dad's band some time back.[Jazz Trombonist Don Lang] Neil Stubenhaus has an emense session CV from the 80's. And Nathan East did his fair share of pop and rock in the 80's. Garry

[quote name='bottomfeed' post='829526' date='May 6 2010, 12:36 PM']This Percy Jones groove has always given me 'musical wood' [/quote] Yep great stuff for sure. Garry

[quote name='Doddy' post='826395' date='May 3 2010, 12:51 PM']Here's a great groove,proving that Jimmy Haslip is indeed,ace. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWsE97scAhQ"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWsE97scAhQ[/url][/quote] Indeed..... Still one of my all time fave Albums. I got to spend about an hour with Jimmy Haslip in a bar in Berlin about two years ago. Top geezer and very modest. Garry

[quote name='Musicman69' post='823795' date='Apr 30 2010, 10:31 AM']better again, listen to the whole band! [/quote] Thats my approach, take the whole thing in, more Musical to my lugs. And if you are doing a gig with an Ebony board and no staples you can keep you intonation spot on. Garry